When this draw was made in mid-December, Manchester United had recorded just one win in five games. However, rejuvenated under caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær, the ‘Red Devils’ have won ten of their 11 since that draw, and visiting PSG will know they are facing a much different team than the one that graced the Champions League (CL) group stage.
This is uncharted territory for Solskjær though, with his only previous managerial experience in this tournament coming during the qualifying stages with Norwegian club Molde (W3, D4, L1). However, his side are veterans of Europe, and have lost just five of their previous 26 games in continental competition (W16, D5, L5), and have never lost at home to a Ligue 1 team (W10, D3).
PSG have been touted as one of the tournament favourites from the start, with their first place in Group C (W3, D2, L1) confirming their ambitions. However, the French champions have only won one European game in England previously (W1, D4, L5).
The visitors have scored in 11 consecutive CL away matches though (W5, D2, L4), yet they kept just two clean sheets across that time. With goals a feature of both halves in each of those 11 games, another goal-filled fixture could be on the cards here.
Players to watch: United’s midfield will look to boss PSG, and will have a good chance of doing so if Paul Pogba continues his stunning form that has seen him score eight goals since Solskjær took charge.
Kylian Mbappé has seven goals across his last nine PSG games, and his pace could be a thorn in United’s side.
Stat attack: United have progressed in six of the seven European two-legged knockout ties they’ve played against French clubs.
Both teams have scored in PSG’s last ten CL matches.
Both teams scored in four of United’s last five home victories.
Will not play
Darmian M.
(Injury)
Cavani E.
(Hip Injury)
Rojo M.
(Knock)
Meunier T.
(Concussion)
Valencia A.
(Knock)
Neymar
(Ankle Injury)
Rabiot A.
(Personal Reasons)
Match Information
Referee: Orsato D. (Ita),
Venue: Old Trafford (Manchester